Transmigrated as the Crown Prince's Mate-Chapter 174: More Accusations...

UNEDITED...

Then, Evelina straightened. "What about the land’s resources?"

The elders frowned, confused.

"What do you mean?" one asked.

Evelina stepped forward. "Instead of dividing the land arbitrarily, we divide it based on its natural resources. If there are water sources, farmland, or other critical features, we can allocate them fairly between both packs. It’s not about the land itself—it’s about what it offers."

The room fell silent again, but this time, it was a thoughtful silence.

One elder stroked his beard. "That... might work. If we could survey the land—"

"Already done," Evelina interrupted. "I studied the territory maps some time ago. I can draft a proposal."

Damian watched her, his chest swelling with pride. She wasn’t just intelligent—she was brilliant.

But not everyone was as impressed.

As the council murmured, Lord Luther sat at the edge of the table, his expression carefully blank. But beneath the surface, his mind was working furiously.

He had expected Evelina to falter today or perhaps act rashly. After all, she had been suspicious of him for some time now.

But she hadn’t.

Instead, she presented an intelligent, measured solution that was gaining traction with the council, and that made her dangerous.

More dangerous than Luther had realised.

His thoughts flickered briefly to the events of the night before. He hadn’t been able to shake the unsettling memory—the realisation that Evelina had already been one step ahead of him.

It was late at night, and the palace was quiet. Luther had moved quickly and silently through the tunnels, his robes lightly touching the damp stone walls.

The air was cold and still, and the faint sound of dripping water echoed in the distance. He moved with purpose as he approached the hidden clearing.

Evelina had been getting too close—her actions, her questions, her sharp intellect.

She was piecing together the threads of a web he had carefully spun over the past few weeks, and though she lacked the full picture, it was only a matter of time before she did.

Luther had decided the bottle could no longer remain where it was. The risk was too great.

When he reached the hidden compartment, he pressed his palm to the worn grooves in the stone, activating the mechanism with a soft click.

But the compartment was empty.

A cold, sinking feeling settled in his chest. His fingers curled into fists as his sharp gaze swept the area. That’s when he noticed it—the faint scent that clung to the air.

Evelina.

His jaw tightened as he stood there, the realisation washing over him. She had been here.

She had found the bottle.

"Damn it," he muttered under his breath with a low growl.

His mind raced, trying to understand why she hadn’t yet presented her discovery to the council.

If Evelina had the evidence, why hadn’t she exposed him?

The answer came to him quickly: she was gathering more.

She wanted more than a single poisoned wine bottle. She wanted an airtight case, one that the council couldn’t dismiss or dispute.

Luther had clenched his fists, his expression darkening. He couldn’t allow that to happen.

His fingers tapped against the edge of the table as the memory faded, his cold gaze sharpening on Evelina once more.

Luther didn’t need to know what Evelina planned to do next to prepare his own counterstrike.

If she wanted time to gather evidence, he would rob her of it.

If she wanted to present herself as a trustworthy voice of reason, he would sow doubt and suspicion until her words carried no weight.

And if she thought she could outmanoeuvre him, she would learn that he was always three steps ahead.

"An interesting idea," Luther said smoothly, his voice cutting through the council’s deliberations. "But I wonder..." He allowed the pause to linger, ensuring all eyes were on him. "Does Lady Evelina have the council’s full confidence in matters such as these?"

The words landed like a well-placed dagger, drawing the attention of every elder in the room.

Evelina felt the weight of their gazes shift toward her. She forced herself to remain calm, her heart steady. "I’d hope that my research and preparation speak for themselves, my lord," she replied evenly.

Evelina’s words hung in the air, the weight of her calm response settling over the council. But the tension didn’t dissipate; it grew thicker, sharper.

Luther’s thin smile widened ever so slightly. "Research and preparation are all well and good, Lady Evelina. But knowledge without loyalty can be dangerous."

The murmurs in the chamber grew louder, and Evelina’s heart clenched. She kept her composure, refusing to let his pointed words rattle her. But before she could respond, another voice cut through the air, clear and confident.

"Lord Luther has a point," Selene said as she stepped forward from the far side of the room.

Evelina’s jaw tightened, her gaze flicking to Selene. Of course she was here.

Selene was dressed impeccably, her golden curls catching the sunlight streaming through the tall windows. She looked every bit the composed noblewoman, but Evelina could see the glint of mischief—and malice—in her eyes.

Damian’s expression darkened, his silver eyes narrowing. "Selene, this is a council matter."

"And as someone deeply invested in the safety of Arcadia, I believe I have the right to speak," Selene replied smoothly, her voice honeyed and saccharine. She turned her gaze to Evelina, her smile sharp. "Especially when it concerns someone whose loyalty is... questionable."

Evelina clenched her fists under the table, but her voice remained steady as she spoke. "If you have something to say, Lady Selene, I suggest you say it plainly."

Selene’s smile widened. "Very well. Forgive me for being blunt, but are we truly to believe that Lady Evelina, a woman who was once accused of treason, has Arcadia’s best interests at heart?"

The room erupted in hushed whispers, the tension thickening.

Damian growled low, his wolf stirring beneath his skin. "That accusation was false, and Evelina was cleared of all charges. You know that, Selene."

Selene didn’t even glance at him. Her eyes remained fixed on Evelina. "Cleared or not, the suspicion remains. And now she suggests a proposal that would grant our rivals an equal share of our resources? It seems... convenient."

Evelina inhaled deeply, keeping her expression neutral despite the anger simmering in her chest. "What’s convenient, Lady Selene, is how you twist facts to suit your narrative."

Selene arched a brow, feigning innocence. "I’m simply asking the questions everyone else is too afraid to voice."

"Enough," Damian snapped, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade. "This is a council meeting, not a place for petty accusations. Evelina’s proposal is a sound strategy that avoids unnecessary bloodshed. Unless you’d rather send our warriors to die over land disputes?"

Selene’s gaze flicked to him, her expression softening ever so slightly. "Of course not, Damian. I only want what’s best for the kingdom."

"Then sit down," Damian growled, his tone leaving no room for argument.

But Selene wasn’t done. She turned back to Evelina, her smile turning colder. "You seem quite confident, Lady Evelina. Perhaps too confident. But confidence can only take you so far. The council deserves more than clever words and empty promises."

Evelina straightened, meeting Selene’s gaze head-on. "I don’t deal in empty promises, Lady Selene. The survey I referenced is thorough and based on facts. If the council wishes, I can provide detailed reports to support my proposal."

Selene opened her mouth to reply, but one of the elders cut her off. "Enough," the elder said firmly, his voice commanding attention. "We will hear no more baseless accusations. Lady Evelina has presented a logical and well-researched solution. Unless there is concrete evidence to suggest otherwise, we will proceed with her proposal."

Selene’s jaw tightened, but she masked her frustration with a tight smile. "Of course, Elder." She stepped back, though her sharp gaze lingered on Evelina.

Luther, however, remained calm, his smile faint but calculating. He had planted the seeds of doubt, and with Selene’s help, he had watered them. Now, he only needed to wait for them to grow.

As the council meeting concluded, Damian and Evelina exited the chamber together, his hand resting protectively on the small of her back. He could feel the tension radiating off her, but she kept her head high, her expression composed.

"Are you alright?" Damian asked quietly as they made their way down the corridor.

Evelina nodded, though her jaw was tight. "I’m fine."

"Selene—"

"Is a distraction," Evelina interrupted, her voice firm. "And so is Luther. They’re trying to rattle me, Damian. Trying to make me second-guess myself."

Damian’s gaze darkened. "They won’t win."

Evelina’s lips curved into a small, determined smile. "No. They won’t."

But even as she said the words, she knew the battle was far from over. Luther and Selene were relentless, and they wouldn’t stop until she was discredited—or worse.

And she had just three days to prove them wrong and free herself from all these drama.